UNPAID HOTEL BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21224, 2 July 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

UNPAID HOTEL BILL.

STRANDED AMERICANS.

REMARKABLE STORY.

" LAUNCHING A BUSINESS."

A remarkable story concerning f o ,jj, Americans and an Englishwoman was told before Mr. Justice Clauson in a Lo n . don court recently.

Judgment summonses were taken out by Mr. Richard Percy Cowes for pay . mcnt of £l9B under a guarantee for a hotel bill. The debtors, who were stated to have come from America to under ake an advertising scheme in Britain, are Mr. Charles W. Alison, Mrs. Beatrice ft. Beecher, Mr. W. Hamilton-Stuart ami Mrs. Kenyan, all Americans, and Miss Kathleen Wace, an Englishwoman. 0

Mr. Coumbe, counsel for the judgment creditor, said the debtors came over from America to undertake an advertising scheme in Britain. Unfortunately a sum of £2OOO, alhged to be coming from New York, did not materialise and the party were stranded at the Hotel Victoria Their luggage was held and after making inquiries they got Mr. Clowes to guarantee their hotel bill. Mrs. Keriyon, in cross-examination, admittod signing & promissory note,'but denied stating that £2OOO was coming from New York. At present she had no income. She added that she' was now staying at another hotel in London. The Judge said that Mrs. Kenyon had offered to pay £2 n month, and he would maka an order for the payment of that sum. Fruitless; Cross-examination. Mr. Stuart said he was unable to maka any offer. Afked whether he was living at anyone's! expense at his present hotel, Mr. Stuart said the proprietor was a friend of his wife, and an arrangement had been mad»j under which he, Mrs. Kenyon, and another gentleman were getting credit. M,;. Coumbe: How much do you owe him altogether?— About £l5O. - You must have a good position in the Un'ted States? —I have no position in the Unit.ed States at present. Was anything said about £2OOO in connection with an advertising scheme? No. What was your occupation in the States ?—Advertising. The Judge: I can do nothing for you in this case, Mr. Coumbe. .1 dare say your client has been " had," but this procedure won't assist you. Mrs. Beecher said she was now living in s, room for which a lady friend was paying £1 10s a week. She denied telling Mr. Clowes that £2OOO had been provided for the advertising scheme. Mr. Coumbe: How much money had you under your control at that time ? £2.

And yon were staying at the Hotel Victoria and running up a bill of £l5O. I don't think I ran up a bill of £l5O. Did you agree to pay the hotel bills?— If 1 did it would be as a personal loan to one or the other of them. Mrs. Beecher said that she had no resources over hero. She came for private historical research.

The Judge: Perhaps the better dressed people are in this court the less means, they have. That is my expsrience. There 'will be no order in this case. First-Class Passage.

Mr. Alison said that he had no money in England. He was. not prepared to make any offer and denied telling Mr. Clowes that money was coming from America. His present hotel bill was being guaranteed by a friend. He was a broker in New York, but came to England in an advisory capacity in connection with the advertising scheme. Probably he had £2 in his pocket when hsi landed. He came first class.

The Judge: I 'cannot make any order on this summons,

Miss Wace said she was induced byMrs.. Beecher to come to England bat she had never b;?en paid a penny since she landed. She presumed Mrs. Eeecher paid for the first-class passage on ths boat. At the end of the first week she wa:i told that thrir credit had been stopped and two days later they, had to leave the hotel. " Naturally, being English," added M!ss Wace, " I paid my own hotel bill." Mr. Coumbe: Unfortunately, yon signed this promissory note. Miss Wace: I agree, and if I had anything I should like Mr. Clowes to acc pfc it. I am sorry I have not any money at all. I have been stranded in tln» difficult position, tv o order was made in this cas«.